As an essential trace element for human,Zn is involved in the synthesis of various enzymes,and plays important roles in the growth and proliferation of cells.At the cellular level,Zn2+ homeostasis is maintained through the complex mechanisms of uptake,storage and excretion,where the Zn transporter families play certain roles.Two major Zn transporter families,namely the SLC30 (ZnT) family and the SLC39 (ZIP) family,have been identified,which act to control the intra-and extracellular equilibrium of Zn2+.While the ZnT family mainly transports Zn out of the cells,while the ZIP family mainly contributes to the uptake and transport of Zn into the cells.The ZIP family has been noted to be associated with various diseases,and be closely related to the development and progression of tumors.Recent studies have suggested low ZIP1 and ZIP2 expression in prostate cancer,high ZIP6,ZIP7 and ZIP10 expression in breast cancer,high ZIP3 and ZIP4 expression in pancreatic cancer,and high ZIP5 and ZIP6 expression in esophageal cancer.The ZIP family may,therefore,function as tumor suppressor genes in prostate cancer,and oncogenes in pancreatic cancer,breast cancer and esophageal cancer.This paper reviews the latest research progress on SLC39 transporter family and tumors.

Objective To evaluate the treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by bile duct strictures after hepatic transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in hepatic tumor patients. Methods A retrospective review (Jun 1994 - Mar 2010) of databases at two institutions (Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital and Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine) identified 15patients with obstructive jaundice caused by liver bile duct stricture after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. There were 7 cases of primary liver cancer, 5 patients of liver hemangioma, 3 cases of metastatic liver cancer including 2 cases of colonic cancer and one of pancreatic cancer. Obstructive jaundice appeared in a period of 5 months to 16 months after TACE. The median time was 9 months. Results The obstructive jaundice was relieved by surgically constructed hepatobiliary drainage or PTC+stenting treatment in 13 cases and PTCD in 2 cases. All patients of hepatic hemangioma were doing well after treatment. Two cases of primary liver cancer patients with obstructive jaundice after TACE were followed up for 2 years with no recurrence of hepatic carcinoma and bile duct obstruction. The other 8 patients were followed up from 3months to 18 months until to their death from primary disease progress. Conclusions Surgery and or PTCD plus stent can effectively relieve the obstructive jaundice caused by TACE in benign or malignant liver tumors.

Pancreatic carcinoma is a common malignancy of the digestive system,which has poor prognostic results because of its characteristics of lymphatic metastasis and perineural metastasis.Radical resection is considered as the only possible way to cure this malignant disease.As a part of the radical resection,regional lymphadenectomy has gained lots of attention,while there is no consensus regarding the extent of regional lymphadenectomy and the role of combined vessel resection.Recently,the artery-first approach and total mesopancreas excision have probed a new direction for the research of regional lymphadenectomy for pancreatic head carcinoma.

Pancreatic carcinoma is a high malignancy,as radical resection is the only cure for long-term survival.In an attempt to improve outcomes and prognosis,surgeons over the decades have employed various active surgical strategies to combat this disease.Through document analyses of radical pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head carcinoma,regional lymphadenectomy,retroperitoneal nerve dissection,and combined vessel resection,the extent and disputes about radical resection for pancreatic head carcinoma are investigated.Total mesopancreas excision appears to be a novel and promising surgical procedure for the improvement of prognosis of patients with pancreatic head carcinoma.However,further studies based on the data of larger number of patients are mandatory to raise the evidence for this surgical procedure.

Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) is a common malignancy in human digestive system.The lethality of BTC is essentially attributed to the asymptomatic growth of BTC and the lack of effective diagnostic options.The disease is therefore usually detected at an advanced stage and lost the opportunity of surgical therapy.Conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been notably ineffective against BTC.There is now a real and urgent need to focus on developing novel and potent therapeutic strategies against BTC.Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu (HER2/neu) is a member of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase family.HER2/neu is associated with tumor proliferation,invasion,and metastasis that would impact in a significant way on clinical outcome.HER/neu may become a new therapy target of BTC.

Objective To explore effective methods of diagnosis and treatment for delayed rupture of the spleen (DRS) through retrospective analysis of 32 cases. Methods A retrospective study was done in 32 cases with DRS. The effects of CT, ultrasound and diagnostic peritoneal lavage on diagnosis of DRS was observed and compared. Results Splenectomy was performed in 26 cases, among which one died four days after splenectomy because of complicated brain injury and six given conservative treatment under continuous monitoring discharged. The mean hospitalization duration was 18.5 days. Conclusions Diagnostic peritoneal lavage can improve the positive rate of peritoneal puncture. Ultrasound is an important method for diagnosing DRS and closely monitoring the patients receiving conservative treatment.

Objective To investigate the role of cell apoptosis in the gut mucosal barrier dysfunction in rats undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) . Methods The rat model of CPB was set up. The rats were divided into CPB group, sham operation(SO) group and normal control group. The morphological changes of ileum mucosal tissues were observed by microscope and electron microscope at 3h, 6h, 12h and 24h after operation, respectively. The apoptotic index of gut mucosal epithelial cells was measured with TUNEL method. Results Gut mucosal morphology was normal in CPB group at 3h, 6h and 12h after operation, but gut mucosal epithelial desquamation occurred at 24h after operation. Typical apoptotic cells could be seen with electron microscope in CPB group at every time point. Apoptotic index of gut mucosal epithelial cells significantly increased in CPB group at every time point compared with SO group, and peaked at 6h after operation. Apoptotic cells were mostly located in the gut crypt. Conclusion The data suggested that the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells significantly increased at early stage of post-CPB in rats, which might contribute to gut mucosal barrier dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the effect of chronic atrial fibrillation on free calcium concentration and expression of Ca 2+ /calmodulin dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKⅡ) in human atrial myocytes. Methods The intracellular free calcium concentration in rapidly isolated atrial myocytes and the expression of CaMKⅡ in atrial tissue of rheumatic heart disease patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or with normal sinus rhythm were measured by laser scanning confocal microscopy and Western blotting respectively. Results The intracellular Ca 2+ concentration of patients with atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than that of patients with normal sinus rhythm [(276.38?38.12) vs (122.28?45.63) nmol/L, (P

AIM: To investigate the effect of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) on free calcium concentration and expression of Ca 2+ /calmodulin dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKⅡ) in human atrial myocytes. METHODS: The intracellular free calcium concentration in acute isolated atrial myocytes and the expression of CaMKⅡ in atrial tissue of rheumatic heart disease patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and with normal sinus rhythm were measured by laser scanning cofocal microscopy technique and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: The intracellular Ca 2+ concentration in patients with atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than that in patients with normal sinus rhythm [(276.38?38.12) nmol/L vs (122.28?45.63) nmol/L, P

Objective To investigate the effect of leptin on transcription factor nuclear-κB (NF-κB) activity of pancreatic tissue and blood inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α,IL-1β) in severe acute pancreatitis. Methods Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into three groups, including sham group (group A, n = 12), AP model group(group B, n = 12) and Leptin treatment group (group C, n = 12). SAP was induced by intraductal injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. Exogenous leptin was injected I. P. Fifteen minutes later. The concentration of serum amylase, leptin, TNF-α, IL-1βwere measured by radioimmunoassay 6 hours later. NF-κB activity of the pancreatic tissue were measured by immunohistochemistry. The changes of pathology of the pancreas were observed. Results The levels of serum amylase, cytokine TNF-αand IL-1βwere significantly reduced in group C, and the levels of serum leptin were significantly increased in group C. NF-κB activity in the pancreatic tissue in group B were significantly higher than that in group A. However, NF-κB activity of the pancreatic tissue in group C were significantly lower than that in group B. Furthermore, the extent of necrosis of the pancreatic tissue was re-lieved. Conclusion Exogenous leptin protected the rats pancreas against damage by sodium taurocholate. The protective effects of exoge-nous leptin were attributive to the reduction in cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β. The possible protective mechanism was that leptin decreased NF-κB activity.